CRESTVIEW — The City Council is directing staffers to revise a proposed animal control ordinance that spurred debate on animal cruelty and liberty.

Dr. Jean Mitchell endorsed a provision prohibiting pet owners from "chronically tethering" their pets to a stationary object.

"Dogs become more aggressive when they are continuously chained," she said Monday. In addition, an animal's collar digs into its neck when it strains against the line.

Councilman Shannon Hayes said he believed the provision was important.

"I have had a dog choked and killed because of my ignorance to this," he said.

A trolley system is an alternative if a fenced-in enclosure isn't an option, Mitchell said.

The number of pets allowed per household is another issue.

April Meier, owner of a downtown pet food and supply shop, expressed concern about a provision limiting the number of possible pets per owner.

A resident could suddenly violate the law if he or she becomes a caregiver of a deceased loved one's pets, or if a pet becomes pregnant, she said.

"If it has a litter of 11 puppies, what do I do with those?" Meier said. "If the ordinance says you can have only seven (pets), it's euthanasia, right?"

Some residents supported the limitation.

"I do not want a neighbor next to me that has a bunch of animals," Mae Retha Coleman said.

Discussion on revisions hasn't been scheduled, but City Clerk Betsy Roy said it will most likely occur within the next 30 days.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Animal ordinance headed for revisions following resident input

CRESTVIEW — One of two county road projects to begin in 2015 and 2016 will benefit the Crestview area, according to Okaloosa/Walton Transportation Planning Organization members.

Three segments of a five-part project to four-lane P.J. Adams Parkway from State Road 85 to Wild Horse Drive are planned for  fiscal years 2016-17. Construction could begin in fall 2016 or spring 2017.

A fourth segment will widen P.J. Adams from Wild Horse to the Interstate 10 overpass in 2017. The final segment, to widen I-10 to U.S. Highway 90, does not yet appear on the TPO's projects schedule.

"This is real," county engineer Jason Autrey said during a Tuesday meeting after several north county residents expressed frustration with the perception that most road improvements benefit South Okaloosa County.

South county business owners should support completing the P.J. Adams-Antioch Road corridor widening, Baker resident Charles Wachtel said.

"All those people that are supporting the tourism down south gotta go through this little two-lane road," he said. "Let's get them through there faster."

The regional long-term transportation plan includes replacing Brooks Bridge in Fort Walton Beach next year. In Walton County, widening U.S. Highway 331 from I-10 north to the Alabama state line will start this year.

Widening U.S. Highway 98 through Destin and Santa Rosa Beach is scheduled to begin in 2024, but TPO regional planner Christie Johnson said projects move faster with additional funding.

Starting work on a bypass around the city's congested heart can't start soon enough, Crestview resident Mae Retha Coleman said.

"I'm tired of the talk," she said. "Let's walk the walk. I'd like to see some progress."

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: P.J. Adams four-laning could begin in fall 2016

CRESTVIEW — Three failing computers operating on Windows XP will be replaced using up to $6,000 from the contingency fund following the City Council's 3-2 vote.

Councilman Tom Gordon, who with Council President Robyn Helt cast the two "nay" votes, said the council would set precedent by using contingency funds rather than budgeting for the purchase.

On Monday, Councilman Shannon Hayes, citing security concerns after Microsoft stops supporting the XP system after April 8, moved to allow the city's technology staff to replace three crashed computers.

"Hackers will start hacking on April 9, 2014, looking for vulnerabilities in networks," IT manager Thomas Sutton said after analyzing the computers. "Not upgrading these computers will pose a security risk."

Gordon said his research found that Microsoft will extend anti-malware protection through 2016, providing time to replace XP computers through the budget process.

The allocation was less than City Clerk Betsy Roy's original request for $9,000 to replace 13 XP machines, including two in Mayor David Cadle's office, one in the clerk's office, one in Utility Billing and five in Permitting.

The approved $6,000 would allow Roy's office to buy a fourth, backup computer.  

Helt said city IT staffers can reallocate her office's computer, which she doesn't use.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: City Council approves replacing some failing XP computers

CRESTVIEW — A local family's offer to donate equipment for a skate park in Twin Hills Park still stands, but unless city officials act promptly, it's going to another community.Public Works Director Wayne Steele told the City Council in January that the Hemphill family offered the city $120,000 worth of "like new" skate park equipment, including lighting.

"We passed up on Orlando, Jacksonville and Tampa because we wanted to put it local," James Hemphill said. "The only reason we bought into that was to put the park in Crestview, Florida."

The city's cost would be between the family's installation cost of $45,000 and $50,000, plus Public Works' expenses to install drainage and electrical services, Steele said.

According to October 2012 estimates received by Steele, a new, installed skate park would cost $240,000.

While the offer enthused council members, city attorney Jerry Miller cautioned officials to follow procurement procedures, including sending the project out for bid.

Halted progress

Following Miller's caution, no council action was taken on the offer.

"I've tried my best to make it happen, but Mr. Miller recommended against it," Steele said. "The objection was allowing them (the Hemphills) to install it without a bid."

Without direction from the council, Steele said his department can't prepare and issue bid proposals for the project.

City Councilman Tom Gordon, who supports the skate park, as well as a proposed linear park and dog park in the Community Redevelopment Agency district, said the city should pursue the Hemphill family's offer — if procurement rules are followed.

"The skate park is certainly viable, but we have to make sure we don't do anything that's not transparent," Gordon said. "It's the taxpayers' money …. We have to make sure we put everything out for bid and everything is done properly."

Steele simply phoning each council member to seek a consensus would start the process, Gordon said.

Meanwhile, the equipment is in storage at a monthly $3,000 fee, which, if the family's gift is accepted, would be added to the city's cost, Hemphill said.

A safer place to skate

Possibly losing a long-hoped-for skate park due to government procedures concerns skaters like Crestview High School senior Dylan McClard.

Pausing Thursday afternoon while skating along a residential street, Dylan said if installation is the only issue, "Honestly, I'd be willing to install it myself if it meant we got a skate park."

The closest skate parks are in Niceville and Pensacola, but for area skaters without driver's licenses or access to a car, the only local option is city streets and parking lots. Skaters are sometimes shooed off the latter.

"Skating around neighborhoods isn't bad, but it'd be a lot more fun and entertaining in a park," Dylan said. "It gives people like us a place to be out of the way; a place to do something we like and not get in trouble for it."

Hemphill said his family had kids like Dylan in mind when they acquired the park equipment for a gift to the city.

"They kept questioning our family and our motives," Hemphill said. "There's no better motive than trying to help the kids."

"Most of my friends would like to learn to skate," Dylan said. "I'm sure a park would give them the initiative to learn, but those of us who do skate, we'd be there! It's safer to skate in a park."

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Skate park equipment donation awaiting action by city officials

CRESTVIEW — The Crestview Heat youth basketball team will not receive the city's financial assistance to host a March tournament that could draw 800 overnight visitors to town.

City leaders have regretfully denied the request, citing fiscal responsibility and fairness in applying a policy to deny facility use fee waivers.

The local Amateur Athletic Unionteam hopes to host the tournament at Twin Hills Park's gym, which would cost $1,250 to rent.

"Our biggest expense is those referees," Heat representative Shevon Scott said. "We put out about $2,000 last year. Last year we lost so much money on referees."

When the council took no action on the Heat's request early in Monday's meeting, Council President Robyn Helt raised the issue again during the council reports period.

"As a council member, it pains me greatly when I see my neighbors and friends have to go to other cities to hold an event that could be held in our city," she said.

Helt passed the gavel to council vice president Mickey Rytman to make a motion that, rather than waive fees, the city cosponsor the event. She cited precedent with the Old Spanish Trail Fishing Rodeo, also held in Twin Hills Park, and other events that benefit the community.

The city's exclusive contract with the park concessions operator would bring extra revenue from 800 visitors buying food during the basketball tournament, Helt said.

But her motion failed without a second.

Rytman said granting fee waivers to one group when other equally worthy groups seek the same relief sets poor precedent.

"Our hearts are going out to you; you don't know how bad," Rytman said to Heat representatives. "As a city, it's hard for us to decide how to put one (group) before another."

"This has gotten real emotional and it feels good," Councilman Tom Gordon said. "But it's not my money. It's taxpayer money."

"As a citizen, I'll help you with something, but as a representative, I can't see breaking precedent by waiving the fees," Councilman Shannon Hayes said.

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Brian Hughes, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview council denies youth basketball team's request for financial assistance

CRESTVIEW — Rezoning the downtown area would allow Main Street business owners to open apartments above their establishments, according to a growth management firm spokesperson.

The Community Redevelopment Agency has unanimously agreed to allow J.E. Dorman and Associates Inc.'s assistance in rezoning the area. The board, which comprises Crestview city council members, voted in favor of reimbursing the firm $29,800 for creating a comprehensive plan amendment.

"What we are proposing to do is to create a new future land use category that will be specific to the downtown area," said J.E. 'Jack' Dorman, the firm's president and a growth management consultant for the city. "Before you can create zone use regulations, first you have to have the enabling policies go with the objectives within your (comprehension) plan."

The comprehensive plan amendment will serve as a governing document for city officials dealing with future zoning issues, he said.

Prior to the Monday decision, Councilman Thomas Gordon asked how successful the plan would be.

"I would be willing to bet $10 against $1 that it would work," Dorman said. "The success will (also) depend on how the property owners receive it."  

Council President Robyn Helt said the council is open to hearing suggestions from property owners within and near the downtown area. 

Email News Bulletin Staff Writer Matthew Brown, follow him on Twitter or call 850-682-6524.

This article originally appeared on Crestview News Bulletin: Crestview moving toward mixed-use zoning downtown